From left: Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy Austin coaches Jose Portillo, Robert Dembeck and Gregory Gouziotis teach martial arts.[/caption]
Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy Austin on West Gate Boulevard has no barbells, treadmills or cutting-edge machines, just a large padded floor and punching bags.
The minimalist gym is where people from many walks of life train in the martial art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
“Brazilian jiu-jitsu is for everybody,” Paragon owner and coach Robert Dembeck said. “It can be a benefit for anyone, no matter the age, gender or physical ability. It’s a great tool for self-defense and fitness.”
People who come into the gym to train include children, women and men, ranging from beginners to professionals, Dembeck said. Jose Portillo, a coach at Paragon, said hobbyists, nurses, law enforcement officials and couples come in to train.
“Anyone who just wants to ... lose some weight, get in better shape [or] come in to train [can come here],” Portillo said.
Dembeck is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner himself who has won several tournaments and has a black belt, the highest honor in the martial art’s hierarchy. Dembeck said it typically takes eight to 10 years to go from a white belt, which is the beginner tier, to a black belt.
Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy Austin offers classes for both children and adults. Student Zilker Villafranca trains with coach Robert Dembeck.[/caption]
Portillo, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, said the academy specializes the training for children by limiting the amount of techniques taught so that the children can remember the moves and not lose concentration.
David Villafranca said he brought his son Zilker Villafranca to Paragon after he noticed his son allowing all the other children on the playground to go on the slide before him. David has Zilker training at Paragon so he could be assertive, he said.
“Zilker didn’t have any brothers at the time,” David said. “He has a younger brother now, but I wanted someone to roughhouse and play around with him, and there’s plenty of that here. It’s like he has a whole team of brothers here.”
